Cuauhtemoc Blanco

The life of Mexican legend Cuauhtemoc Blanco has taken a twisted turn.

Blanco, who is currently the mayor of Mexican town Cuernavaca, spoke out publicly on Tuesday to deny allegations that he ordered the assassination ofJuan Manuel García Bejarano, who was shot dead in April. Speaking at a city hall meeting, the former Chicago Firestar says he now fears for the safety of himself and his family.

Mexico football legend Cuauhtemoc Blanco was sworn in as mayor in the crime-plagued city of Cuernavaca on Wednesday, with the playmaker tackling tough political opposition before kicking off his tenure.

Blanco took the oath of office at Cuernavaca City Hall, looking like a veteran football manager in a black suit and tie as he vowed to "change Cuernavaca.

Mexico football legend Cuauhtemoc Blanco was sworn in as mayor in the crime-plagued city of Cuernavaca on Wednesday, with the playmaker tackling tough political opposition before kicking off his tenure.

Blanco took the oath of office at Cuernavaca City Hall, looking like a veteran football manager in a black suit and tie as he vowed to "change Cuernavaca.

Well, it's off and running. Today we get our first full day of games, which of course seems to overlap with my USSF licensing class and drive there, but so be it. I bring you your first matchup of the day: Roger Milla vs. Cuauhtemoc Blanco vs. Both phenomenal players on the field, both having some of their best games in the twilight of their careers, and both iconic for

US Soccer begins the post-Landon Donovan era tonight with a friendly against Azerbaijan. Jurgen Klinnsman has hinted that the line up deployed in this game could strongly resemble what we see against Ghana on June 16. Of course, Klinsmann has been known to throw a curve ball every now and then so I wouldn't be shocked if there are a few head scratchers come 9pm on ESPN2.

After a seemingly prolific youth career and bountiful collegiate accolades, I found myself vying for a roster spot on a very good Chicago Fire team. With midfielders like Justin Mapp, Chris Rolfe, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Logan Pause, John Thorrington, Patrick Nyarko, Steve King and other hungry young pro's all vying for starting roles, it was always going to be difficult to succeed in Chicago.

As Sporting Kansas City ushers in what could be a defining era for soccer in the American
heartland this season, the club's overhaul won't stop at its polarizing re-branding or new
soccer-specific venue.

The Fire finally revealed the identity of the second international striker today, and his name
is Diego Chaves. At 5'-10" and 150 lbs. Chaves isn't exactly a prototypical target forward but the
Fire are hopeful that he can fill the #9 spot that is currently up for grabs.

Chaves played briefly with Uruguayan teammate Gaston Puerari in 2009 at Montevideo Wanderers
before playing for Queretaro and Veracruz in Mexico.

Now aged 39 and playing in the Mexican second division with Dorados, you'll be glad to know that the bunny-hopping icon of France '98, Cuauhtemoc Blanco is still refusing to act his age and disappear into a big beige cloud of middle-aged boring...

There has been a lot of talk recently about how Chicago doesn't get much respect from media
outlets. The roots of this might deserve further treatment than what they will get here but take a
look at MLS' top 10 soccer journalists as listed by MLSSoccer.com last August. Seattle, New York,
and D.

Let's play a little trivia. Name the Chicago Fire Career Regular Season Goal-Scoring Leader. If
the name Ante Razov was not at the tip of your tongue, it's time to bulk up on your Chicago Fire
history. Razov holds any kind of goal related record you can imagine; shots (617), hat tricks (2),
offsides (184), game-winning goals (23), penalty kick goals (12), multi-goal games (16), and of
course just goals (76).

About a week ago, Chicago Fire Director of Communications Brendan Hannan contacted Hot Time In
Old Town to have an open conversation with Javier Leon, who is the Managing Director of Andell
Sports Group and President of Soccer Operations for the Chicago Fire. It's not every day that the
Fire Front Office reaches out to us over here at HTIOT, so we definitely didn't want to pass up
this opportunity.

The Chicago Tribune had a story yesterday with an update on the Chicago Fire Jersey Sponsor. To
my knowledge, this is the first time we've seen Fire President Julian Posada discuss Best Buy's
departure:

"We got a heads up that they were looking at a different direction," he said.

Hey, remember Larissa Riquelme? Y'know, the Paraguayan 'World Cup super fan' that just about
everyone wanted to gashmoygady last summer right up until they realised just what a desperate,
fame-craving harlot she was?

The Rest

A few weeks ago I wrote a piece over at theAthletic.com about Bastian Schweinsteiger's arrival and how it compared to the Fire's last big name signing in 2007. I spoke to the Fire's General Manager at the time, John Guppy about the buzz and excitement created by Cuauhtemoc Blanco's arrival and how a short-notice announcement of an introduction turned into 5,000 people showing up at Toyota Park to greet him.

We all think that D.C. United will win their first match in the 2015 US Open Cup.

With players new and old cycling through the lineup, the US Open Cup is always difficult to predict. We all think that D.C. United will beat the Pittsburgh Riverhounds tonight; let us know what you think in the comments!

OTF Soccer's World Cup coverage isn't all USMNT. Austin Fido brings you an update on the rest of CONCACAF's Brasil-bound squads...

The CONCACAF Champions League wandered back into the public consciousness with a live-streamed group stage draw most remarkable for the absence of any flagrant misunderstandings of its own rules, as temporarily enlivened proceedings last year.